In part two of our vineyard blog series, we explain how we’re changing more in the vineyard than just what grape varieties are planted. We’re adapting our viticultural practices to our changing climate, meticulously considering every variable as we replant our estate vineyards.
It starts with the right grape variety on the right site. Previously, we explained how we’re shifting our varietal mix to adapt to our evolving climatic conditions. But just as important is how we’re planting these grape varieties. There are an almost infinite number of variables to consider when establishing, or re-establishing, a vineyard.
These decisions are the foundation of our vineyards over the coming decades. In many ways, it’s easier to change the grape varieties planted – through field grafting, for example – than the actual design of the vineyard. So, we methodically considered every option, implementing solutions that work today but also anticipate the future.
Row orientation
To start, we’re changing the vineyard row orientation. Many of our blocks were originally planted on a north-south row orientation to maximize sun exposure, evenly distributing sunlight throughout the day as the sun moves from east to west. The exception was our steepest blocks, where the rows are planted with the slope for safety considerations, airflow, and more even sun exposure.
Moving forward, we’re adopting a row orientation that is 21 degrees and 30 degrees east of north at Sharprock and Double Black. It sounds like a subtle shift, but this will provide more shade during the warmest parts of the day. It’s an important adjustment to preserve freshness in our fruit, especially as the number of extreme heat events continues to increase in the Okanagan.
Mitigating the heat is important not just for quality, but also ensuring our wines continue to age gracefully. We want to prevent raisinated berries, which act like packets of sugar, raising potential alcohol levels without adding complexity. We also want to avoid cooked or stewed fruit flavours that are associated with premature aging. Freshness is about both retaining acidity and preserving pure, vivid fruit, which together provide the structure for a wine to improve with age.
Vine density
We’re also amending our row spacing to increase the overall vine density. Our rows were originally planted eight feet wide, with vines every four feet. We’re narrowing the rows to seven feet, with three feet separating each vine. Throughout the Okanagan, vineyard rows were historically wider to accommodate the large tractors previously used for orchards. That’s no longer necessary, and there’s good reason to make this change.
Narrowing our row spacing means we can increase our vineyard density to 2,074 vines per acre. We can then farm the vines to have smaller canopies, with lower yields per individual plant. Yield is often measured in tons per acre, at least in North America. But we’re transitioning our thinking to kilograms per vine. Less fruit per vine means more power and concentration in the resulting wines, furthering our aim of producing exceptional, age worthy wines.
Our location on the Black Sage Bench makes this all possible. The sandy desert soils are low in nutrients, naturally restricting vine vigour. Instead of vegetative growth, producing a large canopy with an abundance of leaves, the vine puts its energy towards ripening fruit. It strikes the perfect balance in the vineyard, allowing us to minimize both our inputs and tractor passes.
Clonal and rootstock diversity
Lastly, we are preparing for the unexpected. The increasing prevalence of extreme weather events means we need to incorporate contingencies and protective measures. Our answer is diversification. This, in part, is why we’re planting a range of grape varieties. An adverse weather event may affect some varieties more than others.
We’re going a step further by using a diverse combination of clones and rootstocks for each variety. For a winemaker, it’s like providing an artist with a broader colour palette, giving us more options as we craft our blends. But each clone and rootstock also performs differently in the vineyard, providing greater flexibility and adaptability.
In addition, we’re trialing less common rootstocks that should be ideally suited to the future of the Okanagan. That includes drought-tolerant rootstocks like Schwarmann, which have lower water requirements as well as more resilience during prolonged heat events. It may take years before we know the results, but it’s an important step towards long-term sustainability.
As we re-establish our estate vineyards, each decision reflects our commitment to producing exceptional wines that express the unique character of our desert home. At the same time, we’re preparing for the challenges ahead, ensuring our vineyards can thrive for generations to come. In the next post, I’ll explore how we’re promoting biodiversity and elevating our organic certification through regenerative agriculture, as we work with nature towards a self-sustaining vineyard ecosystem.